Towing A Trailer; Trailer Tow Hitch - BMW M5 Owner's Handbook Manual

The relevant figures are shown under Weights
on page 192.
The roof load must be uniformly distributed and
should not be too large in area. Heavy items of
luggage should always be placed at the bottom.
Make sure that there is sufficient clearance for
raising the glass roof and that no objects extend
back far enough to be struck by the luggage
compartment lid when it is opened.
Correct, secure loading of the roof rack will pre-
vent items from shifting or falling off during the
journey.
Drive smoothly and avoid violent acceleration,
braking or cornering.

Towing a trailer

The trailer load limit is given on page
onwards. It is also entered in the car's registra-
tion papers.
Cover flap
Removing
Pressing the diffusor 1 with one hand, pull
down the tongue 2 at its front edge and pull off
the cover 3 to the rear.
Fitting
Offer up the cover 3 from the rear, insert it in the
guides and press it in fully.

Trailer tow hitch*

If a trailer tow hitch is fitted by the manufacturer,
the vehicle will be equipped with uprated sus-
pension at the rear as standard.
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Online Edition for Part-No. 01 41 0 159 168 © 03/05 BMW AG
Look after a detachable ball end in accordance
with the manufacturer's operating instructions,
to ensure that it can be fitted and removed with-
out difficulty.
Due to the body reinforcements at the rear end
of the vehicle, the effect of the regenerable
bumper system is limited.
Fitting and removing
The ball hitch is located in the luggage com-
partment, beneath the floor panel flap.
As a result of its proximity to the exhaust,
the ball hitch may become very hot while
inside the luggage compartment. Allow the ball
hitch to cool down before carefully removing it,
to avoid the risk of
The procedure for fitting and removing the ball
hitch is described in the enclosed manufac-
192
turer's operating instructions.
Before a journey
Nose weight
The nose weight limit is given on page 192. The
nose weight should be kept close to this limit. It
is important to ensure that the nose weight is
never less than a minimum of 25 kg (55 lb).
The trailer's nose weight affects the towing
vehicle and thus increases its weight. The
weight of the trailer tow hitch and the nose
weight reduce the maximum payload of your
BMW. Please ensure that these do not cause
the gross weight limit of the towing vehicle to be
exceeded if a trailer is being towed.
Loads
When loading the trailer, make sure that
the weight is kept as low as possible and
stowed if possible close to the axle.
A low centre of trailer gravity makes the outfit
much more stable and safe to drive.
Do not exceed either the trailer's permitted
gross weight or the specified permitted towing
load for the car. The smaller value is the limit
which should be adhered to.
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